Kniphofia plant named ‘KNI606’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kniphofia  plant named ‘KNI606’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; repeat flowering over a long period of time; and creamy white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Kniphofia uvaria.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KNI606’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKniphofia plant, botanically known as Kniphofia uvaria and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘KNI606’.

The new Kniphofia originated from a cross-pollination conducted by theInventor in 1996 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Kniphofiauvaria, not patented. The new Kniphofia was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment inCobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in November, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kniphofia plant by vegetative divisionsin a controlled environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales,Australia since December, 2006 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Kniphofia plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kniphofia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KNI606’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KNI606’ as a new and distinct Kniphofia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Repeat flowering over a long period of time.    -   5. Creamy white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Kniphofia differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia are shorter than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have lemon yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Kniphofia differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the male parent selection        differ in leaf color.    -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia repeat flower whereas plants of        the male parent selection do not repeat flower.    -   3. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can also be compared to plants of Kniphofiauvaria ‘Little Maid’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, plants of thenew Kniphofia differed from plants of ‘Little Maid’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Little Maid’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia and ‘Little Maid’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Little Maid’ had lemon yellow-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kniphofia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Kniphofia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘KNI606’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘KNI606’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in containers during the winter in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. and under culturalpractices which approximate commercial production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 27° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 16° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from4,200 to 5,000 foot-candles. Plants were six months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kniphofia uvaria ‘KNI606’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Kniphofia uvaria, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Kniphofia uvaria, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative divisions.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright plant            habit; basal rosette of leaves; flowering stems developing            from the center of the basal rosette of leaves; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of leaves.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About 45            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 37 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple; sessile; grass-like.        -   Length.—About 34 cm.        -   Width.—At the base, about 5 mm; mid-section, about 3 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate; strongly keeled.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;            venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147A to 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single funnelform flowers            arranged on upright terminal racemes; freely flowering habit            with about 85 flowers developing per inflorescence; flowers            face outward to slightly downward.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants            flower repeatedly from spring to autumn in southern            California.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to            seven days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 14 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 mm.        -   Flower length.—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm.            Shape: Columnar. Color: Close to N147A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Six segments fused into a narrow tube;            apices free. Length: Total, about 2 cm; free apices, about            4 mm. Width: Total, about 3.5 mm; free apices, about 2 mm.            Lobe shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 172A becoming            closer to 144B to 144C with development. Fully opened, inner            and outer surfaces: Close to 155B; color does not change            with development.        -   Sepals.—None observed.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 45 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Horizontal to bending downward            with development. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About six per            flower. Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close            to NN155D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 162A to 162B. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 15C. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About            1.3 cm. Style color: Close to 146C. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to 146D.            Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Kniphofia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Kniphofia have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain, high    temperatures of about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA    Hardiness Zone 7.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kniphofia have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Kniphofia.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kniphofia plant named ‘KNI606’ asillustrated and described.